Erasing The Past or Why Moderators Can't Save You From Embarrassment

[rennisaint]

So, a little bit of a mess has cropped up on the AFOC thread lately, and someone complained and suddenly moderators were cleansing the history like it was the Cultural Revolution and they were Mao Zedong's henchmen. This may seem like sympathetic and good behavior for the moderators here on SailNet to undertake, but we live in a society that does not forget and cannot be censored. Many people are currently learning this lesson, from the RIAA, MPAA, and millions of teenagers unwittingly ruining their career prospects through websites such as facebook, and myspace.

Currently many of you may be saying, but Alex whatever do you mean? Once something has been erased from the forums that's it, it's gone. Wrong! Some semi discreet examples:deleted by cam...links to removed material not permitted.

So, moderators I say to you, think carefully before you start deleting, because in actuality by deleting you are simply drawing attention to information that can be gleaned elsewhere and are probably only making a situation worse.

To the members I say, think before you type, we now live in a society where everything is on record for a very, very long time and escaping your past is not as easy as complaining to someone and expecting it all to go away.

In light of all of this, I would ask that the moderators undo their actions and put back the posts that were deleted, things were said that people don't like, but you it is a part of the record and is way to late to change that. If you start deleting everything that hurts anyone, or that someone doesn't like you remove the free spirit of this forum and create a fascist environment hostile to honesty and openness.

I sincerely await your flames,
Alex W. aka renniSaint


P.S. I have nothing to do with any of the members involved in this little tiff, but felt it my duty to this forum's integrity to speak up about the "power abuse", even if it was being used for what was that of as good. Remember, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

[artbyjody]

I only wished my road was paved sigh....

[Giulietta]

I'm confused...what does it mean? Please I am foreigner and didn't quite understand what you meant. Thanks

[Giulietta]

Hey...how did you do that???

[chucklesR]

Rennisaint,

It wasn't power abuse by a moderator - it was a service rendered at the request of a member.
Thank you for completely wasting said moderator's time

Now, how do I hit igore on this thing?

[Cruisingdad]

For the record, I did not delete anything on the thread that seems to be in question. However, we are responsible for trying to keep the place clean - which includes pornography, spam, AND material we feel would be offensive to MOST of the viewers or not in the best interest of Sailnet. It is not a perfect system because we are not perfect (well, Cam is not perfect, I am). As such, there is no way to make everyone happy.

Of note also is the missconception that this is a public forum. Actually, it is a PRIVATE forum which the public can access and join assuming they intend to follow the rules which have been set down. Those rules are subject to change with or without notice. If you want a little less (lot less) moderation and more free speech, Sailing Anarchy is always available. I find it a little too raw for me as many others do too. I prefer a site/forum I can open whithout fear my kids will see something X-rated or full of profanity and indecency. Indecency may also include needless fighting... or fighting of any kind.

And since we are on the subject of free speech, there is no such thing - anywhere, ever. In order to speak you must breathe. In order to breathe, you must eat. In order to eat, you must find food... (see where this is going???). In the end, in todays society, you have to have a job that provides income for you to eat, speak, etc. Income is derived from a business, of some sort or another. Business' have to make income to give it. As such, they charge for services. WIthout that, you would have no free speech - so is free speech really free??? No.

Free speech is a misconception. Free speech means you can speak something without having (hopefully) your head blown off or facing serious physical retribution... I did NOT say financial retribution. Don't believe me?? Go get on the Tartan thread and start throwing a bunch of lies about their boat and see how long it takes for them to sue you. That is called slander/making disparaging statements. (PS, for the record, I am not saying that anyone on there has slandered Tartan, it just made a good example). Maybe you say, "No, I mean only free speech for when you speak the truth." Well, truth, like right or wrong, is in the eyes of the beholder. And though we may have set down what we believe are the universal truths and rights of man(kind), those universal rights and truths may be different for different people and at different times. When we, as a gloobal society, truly come to understand this, you will witness the end of the lines we draw to divide us from ourselves.

I hope that answers your question about free speech... or maybe you don't have a clue what I am talking about... but it is your answer. And I type it and mean it with no disrepect.

- CD

[Giulietta]

CD..what about PAID SPEECH???

I had free meal today...does that mean my speech today is free???

Meaning I dont have to pay for it?? so can exert my free pseech today??

[Cruisingdad]

Originally Posted by Giulietta

CD..what about PAID SPEECH???

I had free meal today...does that mean my speech today is free???

Meaning I dont have to pay for it?? so can exert my free pseech today??

The only thing free is the ability to take a crap... but the wiping will cost ya.

HEHE!

- CD

[bubb2]

I do believe that the OP is just trying to point out that by deleting half an thread or half an post in the case of us the quoited RB. Our response was pointless.

[rennisaint]

CD,

Thanks for the great reply! Of course there is no such thing as truly "free speech" but that wasn't what I was questioning, I was questioning whether you can successfully suppress information in today's society. I understand it is the role of moderators on this forum to keep some decorum, like you said, I'm here when I could be on SA. But, there is a difference between keeping decorum and trying to wipe out an entire line of dialog's existence. Especially since the attempt is so ineffective given today's technology.

Chuckles, I'm sorry you took my post as an attack on the moderators here, and I apologize to any moderator that felt that it was an attack. The point of my post was _not_ to attack SailNet or the people who contribute so much to it. In fact it was to do the opposite. I want nothing more than to protect SailNet, I practically live on this site and I don't want that to change. Look at it from my point of view. I've been using the internet since before we had browsers, ISP's, or even PC's in their current form. The very first thing that existed on the internet was forums essentially. Initially the topics were limited to research and science, but quickly it ballooned to cover many topics. By 1990 every topic imaginable was under discussion and the format for forums today had essentially been established. One thing I saw over and over again were moderators destroying forums. Usually one of two things happened. They either over-edited, or under-edited. It is an incredibly fine line to ride between the two things, and I think the moderators here have done a great job so far. Since I joined this is the first instance where I wondered why something had been so heavily edited, especially such an incredibly off-topic thread.

So again, sorry for those of you who took my post wrong, it was only meant to raise discussion. The last thing I want to do is harm SailNet, it is an awesome site and I have had such a great experience here so far. The moderators have been doing such a good job that I forgot they existed often (which is the highest compliment you can pay an administrator). So thank you moderators for your hard work, I didn't mean to attack you, I just saw something that made me nervous and wanted to discuss it with you all.